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Yuji's Japanese Tapas - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Tapas Bars Japanese, Tapas Bars [Edit]
2059 4th Ave WVancouver, BC V6J 1N3
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 734-4990
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Yuji's Japanese Tapas
Review Highlights
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"...ever so popular sweet potato tempura sticks, thinly sliced..." In 3 reviews -
"The staff as well is attentive and friendly." In 3 reviews -
"The spicy tuna and mango rolls are favourites." In 5 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Nina H.
6/19/2011 2 photos
I drove up from Seattle on Saturday to visit a friend and I planned on coming here for dinner... boy, did we get lucky with our seats! We arrived at about 6:30 p.m. and we were seated immediately. We were a little nervous because we saw a bunch of tables with the "Reserved" sign but the server found us a spot and we were ready to order.
We weren't very hungry so tapas was definitely a great option. We ended up ordering four dishes and I had an ikura cone.
We got the ever so popular sweet potato tempura sticks, thinly sliced beef tongue, tuna and avocado crepe and the black cod.
Honestly, everything was so delicious... the black cod literally melted in my mouth and it was still so hot when it was served. The tuna and avocado crepe was another "melt in mouth" experience and it was such a unique combination; very tasty as well. I was definitely a fan of the sweet potato sticks too and enjoyed all three sauces that came with it; ketchup, Japanese tartare sauce (?) and another darker sauce... tasted like a thicker soy sauce.
The beef tongue was good but probably my least favorite because it wasn't as special as the other dishes.
It was a cute restaurant and there seemed to be lots of regulars too which was nice. It's located in a nice little neighborhood with lots of amazing resaurants around it (I noticed all the Zagat rated and Yelp stickers on their doors).
Anyway, I'm glad I was able to visit this place because I usually come up with a huge group and that would not have been a good idea for a large group in this tiny restaurant. -
Review from Josh G.
10/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Yelp, you have let me down. When I see a place with 4.5 stars and 20 reviews, I have usually felt it's a sure thing...until Yujis.
I haven't read one poor review, everyone went off about how innovative and surprising the menu was....seriously? The only thing that surprised me was how lack luster yet still overpriced the fare was.
Even the basic product itself embraced mediocrity. The fish was bland and just extremely average. If I ate this as a $10 Bento lunchbox, it would still be just OK. Are we all talking about the same place?
Very small dishes, very basic flavours, nothing creative except one sheet of ridiculous Vancouver specialty rolls...but honestly, there is nothing creative about mixing kiwi or cream cheese with sushi, especially when the flavours don't work.
I don't like writing negative reviews like these, but when I see ten, 5-star ratings in a row for a place that embodies "meh," I can't help but provide my critique from the peanut gallery. Sorry Yuji's lovers, but this place isn't making any list of mine. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2009
What a flavourful frenzy I went on:
Kiwi Roll - thin slices of fruity sweetness on the outside? So unexpected!
Prosciutto Roll - only cream cheese on the inside? No way!
Mexican Roll -think mini fajitas - could skip it.
Wild Sockeye Salmon Tataki - so thin, so seared, so tasty!
There's a lotta yum happening here - and I'll be back again soon to fill up my mouth.Listed in: Vancouver Sushi Love, I never...
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Review from graham r.
9/3/2008
I've been here probably half a dozen times. The fish is good quality and there are some pretty creative menu items.
They use a lot of sauce. I really like their hamachi, and the soft shell crab. And there is one I can't remember the name but they give you 3 shot glasses filled with cuts of tuna... and each shot glass has a different marinade mixed in. The sweet potato tempura sticks, fried spicy tuna roll, and grilled Sable Fish are all worth trying, too. The nigiri seems kind of expensive, but it's fresh so I still order it.
Uhhh, what else. They're only open for dinner, and you will probably need to call ahead on a fri/sat night unless you eat late.Listed in: Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC
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Review from Cheri L.
Updated - 2/14/2009
Returned here last night, and I must reiterate that those deep fried sweet potato tempura sticks, and the trio of sauces, are quite good. In fact, all of our other dishes last night were fried: the spicy tuna, the spider roll, and the halibut cheek with bacon.
Throw in several pieces of nigiri, and the bill for two was just $46. I always leave this place satisfied, having eaten very decent and uniquely prepared sushi. The staff as well is attentive and friendly.Listed in: Beyond the Bay
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/3/2008
The food at this place is consistently awesome: the age spicy tuna roll, the spicy salmon roll, the… Read more »
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Review from Dee B.
11/18/2010
Yujis - yet another Kits gem.
Food was exemplory. My mother and I dined togethere here and shared brown rice avocado maki, mango role, the baked zucchini, a green salad and wild salmon sashimi. Service was prompt, polite and friendly and we arrived at 5:30 on a Thursday so we essentially had the place to ourselves.
I highly recommend the the baked zucchini - not at all what you are expecting and completely to die for. Hey Yuji, can I borrow the recipe, make it for my friends and claim it as my own?! It's THAT good.
I simply dock Yuji's by 1 star because I really do feel like it is mildly overpriced. You can get the same quality elsewhere in Vancouver for half the price. aka Kadoya. The peaceful atmosphere is quite lovely though.
Thanks for having me, Yuji. I will be back. -
Review from Barry M.
7/4/2009
Can't complain about anything here. My first 5.
Had the yam tempura sticks, an unagi/avocado type roll, and miso soup. Some of the best miso soup I've had anywhere.
I can definitely see returning here again! -
Review from Lawrence F.
8/15/2009 3 photos
Contemporary Japanese. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Friendly atmosphere.
We had the Sunomono, Big Eye Tuna Carpaccio with White Truffle Oil, Scallop and Grapefruit between Lotus Root, Grilled Tongue, Curry Calamari, Maguro Mari-ne, and Corn Flaked Prawn Kara-age. Artfully presented and tasty, we couldn't wait to come back and try more of the interesting creations.
Yuji is a gem.
Our only disparaging comment is that a restaurant of this level doesn't need the 35 sushi roll choices (which only served to water down an otherwise innovative and original menu). -
Review from Gersham M.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2009
Excellent and innovative Japanese Sushi/tapas restaurant on 4th.
I've been here a couple times and have enjoyed it immensely every time. They have fresh ingredients in a novel presentation. The regular sushi is very tasty and there's lots of interesting things on the menu.
Of note is the prosciutto, melon and cream cheese roll. Really nice and unusual combination. This restaurant is a welcome break from the California Roll Vancouver specials that infect each street corner. -
Review from Renoir P.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2010
every visit i've made to yuji's has been a positive mouthwatering experience!
Their "special roll" changes every few days and is always an amazing concoction of different types of fresh fish and delicate sauces. the staff is attentive and friendly.. seriously can't go wrong with yuji's. -
Review from Q B.
Vancouver, BC
8/13/2010
5 stars if you stick to having rolls and regular sushi.
The spicy tuna and mango rolls are favourites.
The plated dishes here are good but quite expensive for what you get. -
Review from Reza N.
Vancouver, BC
4/24/2010
Compared to a lot of sushi places this one stands out. The service is very friendly and efficient. The Japanese typically have a great work ethic and are committed to what they do.
The menu is really cute...there is a foreword from the owner welcoming all the guests and offering advice on how to read the menu for first time guests. The ambiance is very clean. It has a Japanese Zen feel with a touch of contemporary.
The food was fantastic quality and the menu offers some items that are incredibly creative.
I was contemplating of giving it a 4 star rating because I was under the impression that it was on the lower scale of the moderate pricing but actually it is on the border of moderate and spendy. I went with my fiancée and we spent $65 for 2 for just food and no drinks. As long as you keep that in mind and are not under the wrong impression then this place is really fabulous. -
Review from David U.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2011
Another must try for everyone in Van. Everything here is amazing from the genmaicha(the tea they serve) to the avacado crepes. I could probably write a whole review about how the tea alone is worth a visit but I'm guessing everyone is coming for the food.
While I have only been here once it was a memorable experience. We tried the grilled duck breast, cornflake shrimp karage, avacado crepes and the tuna tataki. The food is mindblowing. Absolutely delicious.
This place is more expensive then Guu but it's definitely worth every last penny. -
Review from Reena M.
7/11/2009
I definitely came here with high expectations. However, I'm beginning to think I should learn how to control my expectations so they're nonexistent. But as a food lover, I find that hard to do.
It was good, don't get me wrong. The plating for everything was amazing!
We had the tuna sashimi in 3 different sauces and it was quite creative serving them in shot glasses. And the tuna cut was smooth and perfect. However, out of the 3 sauce flavours I only liked one of them--the spicy sauce. If I were ever to get it again, I'd tell them I only want that one. The other two (citrus and sesame) I.M.O. weren't very good but my friend though they were alright.
We also got cornflake crusted ebi tempura which was interesting... It was good. But there was something about it that wasn't satisfying. I can't pinpoint. It did come with a scoop of potato salad.
Ebi sunomono was okay. But not the best I've had. The gyoza was actually reminiscent of a Japadog--maybe the okonomi one.
The halibut cheeks (lol! say that fast and you'll giggle too) wrapped in bacon and fried were also executed well, I presume, but I think the flavour wasn't to our liking. All we tasted and felt (in terms of texture) was the bacon and the breading. For all we know they could have forgotten the halibut cheeks (hee hee!). I think it's better when scallops are bacon wrapped as they're surely more meaty than what we had in this halibut cheek croquette things.
And the last thing we ordered was the house special roll which was kind of like a dynamite roll in that it had ebi tempura in it, but with cucumbers, and carrots? inside, then rice on the outside, and sliced avocado laid beautifully on top of that. And on top of the avocado on each rollslice was some chopped spicy scallop. It was pretty unique, but familiar and delicious.
The service was really good. They were pretty caring about my salmon allergies and they came regularly to fill our water glasses.
My biggest complaint about this place though was that the food was very similar to Guu but the prices were quite a bit higher. I think some of that translates into the quality, but Guu is more entertaining. If I had to choose, I'd go for Guu. -
Review from Rachel K.
2/16/2010
Run! Don't walk! Get the deep fried spicy tuna roll!
I soooo wish we had sushi like this in Seattle. The fish was fresh, flavorful, and not a million dollars. The menu was interesting, diverse, but not overwhelming. The staff: friendly, conversational, and not overbearing. In all: I loved Yuji's and can't wait to go back on my next trip up. -
Review from Diana D.
Vancouver, BC
5/31/2011
Not much left to say about Yuji's that hasn't been said already.
Phenominal food and my absoulte bar-none favortie Japanese tapas place in Vancouver.
I absolutely recommend the tuna and avocado crepes as well as the kobe beef and salmon carpaccio. There's a reason so many of these reviews include recommendations for these dishes.
The service is amazing as well, no matter how busy they are attentive and friendly. I think the best way to judge the service is when it's busy, the kitchen is rushed and tables are waiting. If they can handle the busiest and most stressful dining rushes with grace and cheerful charm, that's when you know you've got it down to an art.
I definately recommend Yuji's to everyone that enjoys fantastic Japanese tapas! -
Review from Owen S.
Victoria, BC
12/22/2009
This place is Hands Down one of the best Sushi Restaurants in Vancouver. I have tried alot of places over the years, and this is well worth it! Call for a reservation or book on round table.
Enjoy! -
Review from Gabriel D.
3/26/2010
Fuck. I love this place!
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Review from s f.
Vancouver, BC
7/24/2011
Sadly, Yuji's is now closed.
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Review from Ange L.
Vancouver, BC
10/4/2009
Out of all the Izakaya's in the city, I would confidently say that this is my FAVOURITE one. We have eaten here about 5-6 times now - scrumptious food every time. Consistency over time is the real test for any food establishment.
The menu is inventive in an almost fusion way. Presentation is feast for the eyes. On on last visit, we had fresh uni (flown in that morning from Japan) - it was spectacular! Another favourite of the evening was the "scallop and habanero nori wrap" - like a DIY chopped scallop roll with a kick. The "maki rolls" are refreshing and delicious. Try the "mango roll" and "papaya roll". And you can't go wrong with the "corn flaked prawn karage". Kobe beef slices prepared at your table - heavenly. For dessert we tried the "homemade cheese pudding" - a little pot of cheesy goodness topped with ice cream.
The atmosphere is comfortable and more subdued than the traditional izakayas. Wonderful service! -
Review from Dave T.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2009
Get here, order the Prosciutto Roll, put it in your mouth, and chew.
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Review from Anne R.
Vancouver, BC
1/24/2011
A girlfriend and I went to Yuji's for dinner last week after reading some great reviews. We were prepared for the small portions and large prices. While this was the case, Yuji's is not a standard sushi restaurant--it really is what they say it is: Japanese tapas. Try to avoid doing the cheaper, standard rolls. I'm sure they do a great job, but you could save some money and get a tuna or cali roll elsewhere. The "Yuji's original" section of the menu is what you are there for: The prosciutto roll was our favorite--cream cheese and mango inside with prosciutto and a dollop of pesto on top. Surprisingly great flavor combinations, although the roll was a rather delicate size. We shared two other rolls and a dessert--the green tea crème brule with ice cream (very tasty and original) and the bill came to $40 with tax and tip. There were more staff than patrons there at 7pm on a Tuesday, but that worked for us. If I was walking by with a friend and we wanted a quick bite, I'd pop in to get that roll again, but otherwise I'm saving my money to try Tojo's!
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Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
10/26/2009
I was taken out to Yuji's on the weekend, it was great. The special of halibut and pine mushrooms was wonderfully fragrant. The pine mushroom is available now and is featured in many Japanese restaurants. I loved the duck also, duck is not common on Japanese menus. The best thing is the wide selection of artisanal sakes many from the USA.
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Review from Janine L.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2009
Terrific place to get together with a girlfriend and enjoy delicious japanese tapas. I love everything on the menu and the people are so nice to you :)
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Review from Grammar G.
6/12/2009
This place rocks. Chef Yuji makes a roll called the BLT with, yup--you guessed it, bacon, lettuce and tomato. divine! he gives innovative treatment to ingredients like papaya, mango and eggplant. the menu looked so good, i could have tried everything, but the baked eggplant was amazingly delicious. kinda pricey, but you get what you pay for. divine sushi creatively assembled and artfully presented.
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Review from ellen l.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2010
visited yuji's again last night after at least a year w/out. it was as good as i remember...but be careful that everything you order does not emerge from the deep fryer...given the tempura and age selections on the menu, this is easy to do.
